Convertible top drain gutter

ABSTRACT

An elongated member of flexible material is looped between an edge of the body top well opening and a floating rear bow of the top when the top is in raised position to collect water flowing from the top within the storage well.

linited States Patent Inventor Stanley Podwys Orchard Lake, Mich.

Appl. No. 53,907

Filed July 10, 1970 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 Assignee General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

CONVERTIBLE TOP DRAIN GUTTER 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl Int. Cl Field of Search.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,592,512 4/1952 Fodermaier 296/116 2,930,651 3/1960 Lautenbach 296/ 1 17 Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorneys-W. E. Finken and Herbert Furman ABSTRACT: An elongated member of flexible material is looped between an edge of the body top well opening and a floating rear bow of the top when the top is in raised position to collect water flowing from the top within the storage well.

CONVERTIBLE TOP DRAIN GU'ITER This invention relates to a convertible top drain gutter and more particularly a convertible top drain gutter which extends between the body and the top within the storage well when the top is in raised position for collecting water flowing from the top within the well.

The primary feature of this invention is that it provides a flexible drain gutter for convertible vehicle tops which extends between the top and the body within the storage well to collect any water flowing from the top within the well when the top is in raised position. Another feature of this invention is that the drain gutter is of generally U-shaped cross section when the top is in raised position but is generally planar when the top is lowered so as not to interfere with movement of the top between raised and lowered positions. A further feature of this invention is that the drain gutter is formed of an elongated member of flexible material having one elongated edge secured to the body adjacent the top well opening and the other elongated edge secured to a rear floating bow of the top, with the movement of the bow as the top moves between raised and lowered positions respectively forming and dismantling the drain gutter.

These and other features of the drain gutter of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a broken away partial perspective view of a convertible vehicle body embodying a drain gutter according to this invention with the drain gutter being shown in formed position when the top is in raised position; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring now particularly to FIG. I of the drawings, a conventional convertible vehicle body designated generally includes a rear quarter panel 12 on each side thereof which are joined to a rear deck or tulip panel 14 to define the rearward edge 16 of an opening 18 to a convertible top storage well 20. The edge of the top storage well 20 is of generally U-shape and the forward edge of the well is defined by vehicle body structure and by the seat cushion 22 of a rear seat 24 of the vehicle 10. Such top wells are conventional and from no part of this invention.

A conventional convertible vehicle top, not shown, is suitably mounted on the body adjacent opposite sides of the seat 24 for movement between raised and lowered positions, with the top being stored in a lower position within the well 20. Any conventional convertible top structure may be provided for the body 10.

Such tops often include a generally U-shaped floating rear bow 26 having its ends pivoted to the rear rail sections of the top and having its movement controlled by the tension in the top fabric when the top is raised and lowered. FIG. 2 schematically indicates at 28 the top fabric, and the position of the bow 26 with respect to the top fabric when the top is in raised position is also indicated therein.

In accordance with this invention, the top is provided with a drain gutter designated generally 30 in order to collect water flowing from the top within the storage well 20 when the top is in raised position. The drain gutter 30 generally comprises a length or member of flexible material, such as cloth or vinyl, having one elongated edge portion 36 tacked at 38 to the bow 26 underneath the top fabric 28 and having the other elongated edge portion 40 thereof secured to the quarter panels 12 and tulip panel I4 adjacent the edge l6 by a suitable spring metal head or molding 42.

When the top is in a raised position as shown in FIGS. I and 2, the member 34 is arranged in loop fashion between the opening of the top well and the bow 26. It can be seen that any water flowing over the exterior surface of the top fabric 28 and within the storage well, between the top fabric and the molding 42, will be collected within the gutter 30 and thereafter suitably drained to the exterior of the body through any suitable or conventional drain arrangement. As shown in FIG. 1, the depth of the gutter is least at the centerline of the body and gradual! increases from the centerline to the outboard sides thereo Thus the water collected In the gutter 30 will flow within the gutter to the outboard sides of the body and thence from the body by conventional drain hoses connected to portions of greater depth of the gutter in the side quarter areas of the body.

When the top is in lowered position, not shown, the tension in the top fabric 28 ceases and the bow 26 will thereby move downwardly and rearwardly within the well 20 to generally dismantle the gutter 30. The gutter 30 thus becomes a generally planar member suspending or supporting the bow 26 within the top well 20. Thus, the gutter 30 will not interfere with movement of the top within the storage well 20.

Thus, this invention provides an improved drain gutter for convertible vehicle bodies.

What is claimed is:

I. In combination with a convertible vehicle body having a body opening therein providing access to a convertible top storage well and a convertible top mounted on the body for movement into and out of the well between respective raised and lowered positions and including a top frame having a bow located within the well adjacent the opening when the top is in the raised position, drain gutter means for the top comprising, an elongated member of flexible material having one elongated edge portion thereof secured to the body adjacent the opening therein and the other elongated edge portion thereof secured to the bow, the member being looped within the well between the body opening and how to provide a gutter for collecting water flowing from the top within the well.

i t t t 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF QORRECTHON Patent No. 3,630,568 Dated Decgjoer 28, 1971 Invenron's) ey Podwys I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below': 7

Column 1, line 38, after edge insert 16 line 41, "fzrom should read form Column 2, line 50, "how" should read bow Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1972..

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents EDWARD M.FLETCHER,J'R. Attesting Officer 

1. In combination with a convertible vehicle body having a body opening therein providing access to a convertible top storage well and a convertible top mounted on the body for movement into and out of the well between respective raised and lowered positions and including a top frame having a bow located within the well adjacent the opening when the top is in the raised position, drain gutter means for the top comprising, an elongated member of flexible material having one elongated edge portion thereof secured to the body adjacent the opening therein and the other elongated edge portion thereof secured to the bow, the member being looped within the well between the body opening and bow to provide a gutter for collecting water flowing from the top within the well. 